Wednesday, May 2 by silvia
May is National Bike Month, and the week of May 13 is Bike to Work Week. A number of events are planned in West Windsor and neighboring communities; one (or more) is sure to be right for you. We’ve also included a few for walkers. (Note that not all events listed below are organized by the WWBPA)
May 5: West Windsor Walks to the opening day of the farmers’ market. Join us at 8:50 a.m. in the parking lot at the back of Maurice Hawk Elementary school for a leisurely stroll of just over a mile. We’ll start walking at 9 a.m. and are excited that the route this year will take us along some stretches of sidewalk that weren’t there last year. Kids will be challenged by a game of “I Spy.” People in wheelchairs and kids in strollers are welcome.
May 6: Bring your child (up to age 10) and bike to a free bike skills class at Plainsboro’s Founders Day. Princeton’s police department is sponsoring a separate bike skills class that includes a bike obstacle course on May 19; call 921-2100, ext. 1848 for details.
May 11-12: Adults aren’t being left out. This skills class, offered through the West Windsor Recreation Department, is for those who want to boost their confidence when riding on the road. Cost is $50, but the WWBPA will reimburse $25 of the cost for members. Plus we’ll cover the other $25 for the first five members who write a review of the class that we can use on our website.
May 12: Buy a bike at Bike Exchange in Ewing and get a free helmet from Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association. Learn more about this and other GMTMA events during National Bike Month here.
May 14-18: National Bike to Work Week. Register for a free T-shirt and a raffle with GMTMA.
May 15: Bikers Breakfast at the Princeton Junction train station, sponsored by the WWBPA and Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, starting at 6 a.m. Grab a drink and a snack on us. Want a bike locker? We’ll tell you how to get one.
May 16: The WWBPA is supporting one of three area Ride of Silence events to honor cyclists killed or injured on the roads. Meet at 6:45 p.m. in the Municipal Center parking lot; the silent one-hour ride will leave at 7 p.m. We will have a West Windsor police escort and a funeral hearse courtesy of Mather Hodge. We suggest you wear a black armband and turn on your front and rear lights. We will stick together for the entire 10-12 mile route. Last year, more than 12,000 cyclists took part in events around the world.
May 19: Tour historic Trenton with the Trenton Cycling Revolution. More information about this 15-mile ride and registration at www.trentoncycling.org.
May 26: BikeFest, West Windsor’s bicycling extravaganza, with rides for people of all abilities, from 1.5 miles to 40 miles. Register at www.westwindsorbikefest.com. Say “hi” to the WWBPA after your ride!
June 16: The WWBPA holds a free “learn to bike” class for kids who want to get off training wheels at the West Windsor Farmers’ Market. Watch the video of last year’s class. Note: This is a members-only event.
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Tags: bicycle, bike safety, Learn to BIke, National Bike Month, Plainsboro, Ride of Silence
Posted in Bike Rodeo, Bike Skills, BikeFest, Farmers' Market, National BIke Month, Plainsboro, Princeton Junction train station, Ride of Silence |
Sunday, April 29 by silvia
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance is organizing its third annual Walk to the Farmers’ Market on Saturday May 5 to mark the opening of the market for the season.
This free family-friendly walk is open to people of all ages, and those in wheelchairs and strollers as well. We will meet in the Maurice Hawk School parking lot at the back of the school, and start strolling at 9 a.m.; please arrive by 8:50 a.m. so we can leave on time. Our mile-long route will take us to Berrien Avenue on the school path, and then down Berrien to Alexander Road. We will then cross Alexander Road by the Arts Center and turn left onto the new sidewalk constructed last summer with the help of a Safe Routes to Transit grant obtained by West Windsor Township. We will cross Wallace Road and continue up over the roundabout and along more of the sidewalk along Alexander Road, including a key portion installed last year, to Vaughn Drive, where we will turn right and proceed to the Farmers’ Market.
Children of all ages will be challenged by a game of “I Spy” along the way.
We’ll follow a different route back to the Hawk parking lot for those who are interested.
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Tags: pedestrian, walking, West Windsor
Posted in Alexander Road, Farmers' Market, Walkability |
Friday, April 27 by JerryFoster
Mercer County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders, the legislative branch of Mercer County, adopted a resolution supporting a Complete Streets policy on Thursday, April 26, 2012. Mercer now joins Monmouth County as the only two counties in the state to adopt Complete Streets, which requires roadway projects to support all users, including bicyclists and pedestrians, by default rather than by exception. We thank the Freeholders for their support, and look forward to our county roads becoming more bicycle and pedestrian friendly!
Realistically, infrastructure projects are very long term in their planning and implementation, so with consistent and persistent application, we should see results after several years, while a complete transformation may take decades. We look forward to working with the county planners and engineers to make our county the best place in the state to live and work.
Essex County also ad0ppted a Complete Streets policy, but we’re glad to say that Mercer was only 2 days behind!
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Tags: Complete Streets, Freeholders, Mercer County, Monmouth County
Posted in Advocacy, Complete Streets |
Monday, April 23 by silvia
So your child knows to how to bike but needs some extra safety skills? As part of Plainsboro’s Founders Day celebration, the township’s recreation department is sponsoring a free “bicycling skills 123” class on Sunday, May 6 for kids up to age 10. Instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists will teach them about cycling safety and responsible riding.
Participants will learn about and practice stopping, proper signaling, and other aspects of basic traffic safety. They will also ride in a “chaos box” to demonstrate the importance of following the rules of the road.
Come with a bike and helmet to the municipal grounds between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The WWBPA is delighted to support the event.
Can’t make it? BikeFest will include a “bike rodeo” where kids can practice their skills.
Adults can take a more intensive traffic skills class through the West Windsor Recreation Department.
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Tags: bicycling, bike safety, kids bicycling, Plainsboro
Posted in Bike Rodeo, Bike Skills, Plainsboro, Safety |
Wednesday, April 18 by JerryFoster
If you feel confident about your bike-handling skills but haven’t yet mustered up the courage to try road riding, this class is for you! WWBPA member and League of American Bicyclists’ certified instructor Les Leathem will teach a Traffic Skills 101 course at the Senior Center on Friday May 11 and Saturday May 12.
WWBPA members who complete the course will be reimbursed $25, and the first five members who write us an account of your experience taking the course will be reimbursed an additional $25!
Please see the West Windsor Recreation Division web site for course details.
1 Comment »
Tags: Bike Skills Course, LCI, League Certified Instructor, League of American Bicyclists, Les Leathem, West Windsor Recreation Division
Posted in Advocacy, Bike Skills |
Monday, April 16 by silvia
The WWBPA is once again supporting a “Ride of Silence” in West Windsor as part of our National Bike Month activities. This is an annual international event to honor those cyclists killed or injured on the roads and to raise awareness among motorists that we are on the road. We will leave the West Windsor Municipal Center at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 16 for a slow, silent, one-hour, 10-12-mile ride through town. We will remain as a group, slowing down as needed.
You must wear a helmet! Think about ways to make yourself visible to motorists.
The ride is free; please bring a friend. (Also bring water, ID, spare tube and anything else you think you might need).
Please arrive for the ride at least 15 minutes early.
At least two other Rides of Silence are being planned in our area: in Princeton and in Montgomery.
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Tags: bike ride, Ride of Silence
Posted in Bike Ride, National BIke Month, Ride of Silence, Safety |
Thursday, April 12 by JerryFoster
Mercer County Freeholders discussed adopting a Complete Streets policy April 10, supported by over 15 residents from across the county. Freeholder Andrew Koontz of Princeton drafted a resolution for consideration, and a lively discussion ensued. Please join us at the April 24 Freeholders meeting to support Complete Streets!
WWBPA trustees Jerry Foster, Alison Miller and Daryl McMillan spoke during public comments, as did Jeff Laurenti (pictured) of the Trenton Cycling Revolution, Patricia Van Hise of Hamilton and President of the Princeton Free Wheelers bike club, John Stevenson of Hopewell Township and Diane Ciccone, former West Windsor Township Council and current WWBPA member. We were supported by other WWBPA trustees, members and residents from Trenton, Lawrence, Princeton and West Windsor. Thanks to everyone who showed up!
Please join us Tuesday April 24 at 6:30pm at the McDade County Building in Trenton to witness Mercer County becoming the 2nd county in New Jersey to adopt Complete Streets. Essex County is also considering a Complete Streets policy, so with luck we can be first.
Please contact our officials to show your support if you can’t make it to the meeting!
4 Comments »
Tags: Andrew Koontz, Complete Streets, Mercer County Freeholders, Trenton Cycling Revolution
Posted in Advocacy, Complete Streets |
Tuesday, April 10 by silvia
Adults on bikes
Not everyone learns to ride a bicycle as a child. But it’s never too late to learn and join your family on their outings. The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance is holding a special “learn to bike” class for adults of all ages (as well as mature teens) on Sunday April 29. We will use the same pedal-free balance technique that works so well in our “learn to bike’ classes for children. The class will be held between 10 a.m. and noon in the Vaughn Drive parking lot off Alexander Road (by the Princeton Junction train station) and is free.
Most people learn to ride their bikes while taking the class, but even if they don’t, they leave with an easy, crash-free, and low-stress way to teach themselves to ride. You can read about a Bike New York class here (they taught us!)
Just bring a bike and helmet. You must be able to rest your feet flat on the ground while sitting on the bicycle seat. If you don’t have a bike, please tell us so we can make arrangements. No helmet? The WWBPA sells them for just $10.
This is a small class and participants must pre-register via wwbikeped@gmail.com
This is not a class for those who know how to bike but want to become more confident cyclists. The West Windsor Recreation Department is offering a class for you in May called Traffic Skills 101. The WWBPA will offer a “learn to bike” class for kids in June. Watch for details.
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Tags: Learn to BIke
Posted in Bike Skills |
Sunday, April 8 by silvia
Claim your spot (and T-shirt) at BikeFest, West Windsor’s big one-day bike extravaganza!
The ninth annual BikeFest is set for May 26 (Saturday of Memorial Day weekend; rain date is Sunday) and includes the usual five route options, from the 1.5-mile loop within Community Park for young kids to the 40-mile route for experienced cyclists. Registration is open; just download the form and mail your check or drop it off at the West Windsor Recreation Department.
BikeFest includes a “bike rodeo” to help younger cyclists learn safe riding skills.
The WWBPA isn’t the organizer of BikeFest; that is Dan Gerstenhaber and his team. But many trustees and student advisors will be there as volunteers, and we’ll also have a table with plenty of materials. So stop for a chat after your ride.
Let’s hear the whirr of many wheels!
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Tags: bike ride, BikeFest
Posted in Bike Ride, Bike Rodeo, Bike Skills, BikeFest |
Friday, April 6 by silvia
The WWBPA awards scholarships of up to $500 per student to graduating seniors for their commitment to the community and their efforts to help make the area more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. This year’s application deadline is May 6.
Applicants must be seniors and residents of West Windsor or Plainsboro and attend West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North or South, or be West Windsor residents who attend another area private school or are home-schooled, and must complete their high school education by June 2012.
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Tags: scholarship
Posted in Scholarships |
